Ascension of the Primalist [A Tamer Class, LitRPG]

Seth stood alone amidst the golden expanse of the Savage Grasslands north of Trogan, the wind tugging at his jacket. Far away on the horizon, the dust cloud behind the Champions of Chaos' caravan was just a fading smudge. The sun hung midway down the sky, painting the endless waves of tall, hardy grass in hues of red and orange. The air smelled earthy—it felt good to be out here, away from the confines of the cave or the academy.

With several hours of daylight remaining before he needed to go back to his dorm, Seth had asked Orwen to leave him here instead of bringing him all the way back to Trogan. Colossus needed experience and to learn how to fight. This was the perfect opportunity for his first hunt.

'Finally!' Nightmare materialized beside Seth, shaking out his dark fur, crimson eyes gleaming with anticipation. 'Let’s find a strong prey! Something at least Mid-Iron.'

"No," Seth retorted before focusing on the hazel teardrop resting against his chest. "We need to find a Copper beast for him to start with."

Colossus appeared with a soft brown light, his stony carapace contrasting with the golden grass. His three tails twitched as he took in the landscape.

Nightmare scoffed, circling the newly hatched scorpion. 'I can’t watch him fight a Copper beast. That’ll be incredibly boring. Think about it, almost all his attributes are in Toughness or Aether Well, so… he’s basically a walking fortress. How’s he going to kill it? Sit on it until it suffocates?'

Seth pressed his lips together. Nightmare had a point. Colossus’s defense was leagues above other Rank 12s, but it would take him an hour to kill one of them. Yet at the same time, throwing him against a standard Iron beast, even a Low-Iron one, would be reckless. The scorpion lacked combat experience and could get killed if they weren’t careful. Unless…

An idea formed in Seth's mind. 'Okay, you may be right. Let’s make him face an Iron defensive brawler. Something with high Toughness but low Strength and Arcane Power, so he won’t get killed.'

'Like what?' Nightmare retorted.

For a moment, Seth went through all the beasts he knew lived in the Savage Grassland. Four-horned Rhinoceros? No, too much Strength. Giant-claws Ferrets? Probably too much Agility—oh! Ironhide Warthogs! Yeah, those would be perfect.

"Nightmare," Seth said. "Find us an Ironhide Warthog. A Low-Iron one, preferably."

The direwolf seemed to perk up at the prospect of hunting something new before vanishing into Illusionary Emptiness. 'On it.'

They didn't have to wait for long, since this area seemed to be brimming with life. Within about ten minutes, Nightmare called Seth through their bond from a hundred yards away. 'Found one. Rank 23. Alone.'

Seth nodded and moved forward with Colossus through the tall grass while Nightmare kept an eye on the Ironhide Warthog.

'Okay, Colossus,' Seth whispered through Link, crouching beside the scorpion. 'That thing is way stronger than you, so I want you to use Desert Aegis and Quartz Armor as soon as the fight starts to minimize the risks. Understood?'

Colossus swiveled his armored head, his multifaceted eyes looking at Seth. He then gave a distinct mental nod. 'Okay.'

'And listen,' Seth added, 'if things turn bad and you're in danger, don't worry. I'll pull you back into the necklace immediately.'

'No.'

The refusal was instant. Colossus stepped forward, positioning himself between Seth and the Ironhide Warthog. 'Want to fight. Fight with you. And protect you.'

A faint smile touched Seth’s lips. 'Alright, let’s fight together, then.'

Still crouched, Seth drew his combat gauntlets out of his Endless Pouch and slipped them on before tightening the straps. Together with Colossus, he crept forward, the tall grass swaying around them. When he parted a thick row of grass, Seth got his first clear look at their prey.

The Ironhide Warthog stood grazing placidly, unaware of the imminent ambush. It was aptly named. Roughly the size of a pony, the beast’s body was low-slung and powerfully built, covered not in hair but in thick, plate-like skin that resembled dark, rusted iron. Two curved tusks, stained brown and chipped from use, jutted out from its broad snout. Small, dark eyes scanned the surroundings perpetually while coarse bristles ran down its spine. Even standing still, it radiated stubborn, brutish strength.

Colossus didn't wait for a signal. The moment they were within about thirty yards, the scorpion surged forward, eight legs churning, which made him move surprisingly quick over the uneven ground. As he charged, stones and glittering crystal jutted out to cover its carapace while the hazel light of Desert Aegis pulsed to life, creating a protective zone that encompassed both him and Seth, who was following close behind. Seizing the occasion, he cast Intermediate Identify.